Quality Sporrans for less money

**User** · 20th April 26, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I got it quick!!

Your instincts are correct, it does look different in person, and I'm mightily disappointed.

It's still a nice-looking vintage sporran with a bit of character.

I have no idea how they got it to look that stained and dark.

Well shoot, sorry about that. Maybe they were using some sort of HDR filter to enhance contrast. On the plus side, it still looks quite nice!

**MacKenzie** · 20th April 26, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I have no idea how they got it to look that stained and dark.

Went very high contrast and down with the brightness in the photo editing software.

**OC Richard** · 20th April 26, 04:19 PM

I'll need to take a different photo to work from.

I see the key is having diffuse lighting so upping the contrast brings out of variegation on the flat leather but doesn't make the three-dimensional features go crazy.

**BobF** · 20th April 26, 08:30 PM

Just for kicks I played with your image, and I could almost make it look stained and filthy by boosting the contrast, so it could just be someone finagling the image, perhaps to try to compensate for poor lighting. I agree, though, it had an intriguing used/broken in look.

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I got it quick!!

Your instincts are correct, it does look different in person, and I'm mightily disappointed.

It's still a nice-looking vintage sporran with a bit of character.

I have no idea how they got it to look that stained and dark.

**User** · 21st April 26, 04:02 PM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/287284424090

About $76 after shipping, white horsehair sporran.
Stamped: Wm. Anderson & Sons Ltd, Military Outfitters, Edinburgh & Glasgow
I believe this is an older name used by the company Kinloch Anderson.

**geomick** · Yesterday, 04:17 AM

Originally Posted by User

https://www.ebay.com/itm/287284424090

About $76 after shipping, white horsehair sporran.
Stamped: Wm. Anderson & Sons Ltd, Military Outfitters, Edinburgh & Glasgow
I believe this is an older name used by the company Kinloch Anderson.

I was tempted, but it looks like the brass thistle has part of one side missing

**OC Richard** · Yesterday, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by User

https://www.ebay.com/itm/287284424090

About $76 after shipping, white horsehair sporran.
Stamped: Wm. Anderson & Sons Ltd, Military Outfitters, Edinburgh & Glasgow
I believe this is an older name used by the company Kinloch Anderson.

Exactly. They were founded as William Anderson in 1868. If they're like many old firms it generally goes founder name only > "& Son" > "& Sons".

I can't pinpoint it but the name-change to Kinloch Anderson might have happened in 1972.

Trouble is with all sporrans, including the horsehair ones, is that they were made in 3 sizes so you need measurements. I did contact that seller asking for that.

This is a great photo showing the three sizes being worn by the intended ages.

**geomick** · Yesterday, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I got it quick!!

Your instincts are correct, it does look different in person, and I'm mightily disappointed.

It's still a nice-looking vintage sporran with a bit of character.

I have no idea how they got it to look that stained and dark.

is your question about the picture or the actual darkening of the leather?

Looks like they used Antiquing Stain to me. That often leaves an unattached layer on the surface that rubs off later if it isn't buffed off properly during finishing.

**OC Richard** · Today, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by geomick

is your question about the picture or the actual darkening of the leather?

Looks like they used Antiquing Stain to me. That often leaves an unattached layer on the surface that rubs off later if it isn't buffed off properly during finishing.

What's strange is that the two photos are of the same sporran, on the right the Ebay listing photo and on the left the sporran that arrived.

The stain patterns are there, just extremely subtle, so they must have adjusted contrast dramatically, and started with a photo that would allow that result.

**OC Richard** · Today, 04:25 AM

Here's a WE Scott 'evening' sporran, here in the US, $10 opening bid, $15 Buy It Now.

Looks like some discolouration of the fur next to the cantle, like polish or something.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30689717671...102140.m167418

Or, for $475 you can get a similar sporran with the fur in front ripped open

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23676909047...Bk9SR4r_uaG3Zw

In truth it's a nice older example with silver-plated cantle. Too bad about the fur.